The crowd admired the river view for a while longer before returning to Hong Jie's home to prepare to take Hong Qu back to the inn.
After Hong Jie packed his belongings, he simply patted the book boy on the shoulder and instructed, "I plan to achieve great deeds with Lord An Guo. You return to Jinling and carefully guard our home. When the world is at peace, I shall return."
The book boy understood, solemnly agreed, and after Liang Xiao and his party left, he galloped back to Jinling to report to Zuo Wushang.
Back at the inn, Liang Xiao arranged rooms for the four of them.
Liang Xiao said, "You all have a good chat. I'm going to visit Governor Zhuo. I won't disturb you."
After Liang Xiao left, Hong Jie and the other three gathered in the courtyard. Once they confirmed no one was around, they began to discuss in hushed tones.
"Although it was a bit passive, we've achieved our first goal and successfully accepted his 'invitation'," Shangguan Jiusi chuckled.
Only Hong Qu looked bewildered.
Zuo Jing stared at the silent Hong Jie and said coldly, "You don't actually, from the bottom of your heart, admire Liang Xiao, do you?"
Hong Jie then gave a bitter smile and said, "Compared to the great cause of restoring our nation, does this matter?"
Having received the answer she wanted, Zuo Jing was finally relieved and said, "When you all give up the cause of restoring your nation, I will return and report to my father. From then on, we will have nothing to do with each other. The Yuntian Guard has shelved too many missions for your sake."
The three men's hearts tightened.
So, from beginning to end, she had only been playing along, whether it was her admiration or infatuation for Liang Xiao!
This time, Klisti was also resting in her room, protected by the Tianshan heroines.
In the carriage, Jian Qinwan sat on Liang Xiao's lap, allowing him to play with her delicate hands. She worriedly asked, "Those calluses on Lin'er's hands, are they really from farm work?"
Liang Xiao replied, "Not necessarily. Perhaps it's from practicing martial arts! Of course, it could also be from farm work. But if she's been faking it... it's unbelievable!"
If Lin'er's entire demeanor was a pretense, then no amount of acting awards would compare to her.
"In any case, one must be on guard. Yun Xiu is a smart person. He understood my intentions and is only working for me, with both of us maintaining our boundaries. With him and Zuo Wushang around, the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom will also be more law-abiding," Liang Xiao added.
"Perhaps she is indeed just a pawn, but it's always good to be cautious," Jian Qinwan's face then lit up with a smile, and she hummed, "I thought you were kidnapping another young girl~"
Liang Xiao looked at Jian Qinwan's slightly jealous expression, feeling a surge of affection. He couldn't help but kiss her, only to be playfully slapped on the thigh by Jian Qinwan: "No kissing in public!"
Liang Xiao finally revealed his shameless face: "We'll be returning to the capital soon. Your husband is just getting used to it."
Upon hearing this, Jian Qinwan's body trembled, her face flushed with embarrassment. She cast a resentful glance at Liang Xiao, not daring to respond.
Once he became the Emperor's son-in-law, she…
Zhuo Ping had been waiting at the Prefect's mansion for a long time. He immediately welcomed Liang Xiao and discussed land acquisition matters with him.
Thanks to Ouyang Family's bookstore constantly sending money to Liang Xiao, his funds had exceeded two million taels.
Landlords and gentry reported their land, which could be freely sold. However, buyers had to be informed of the sale and could choose whether to revoke the report themselves.
The farmland in Suzhou was more fertile than in Yanzhou and did not face the threat of barbarians. Even a barren acre of land was worth more than one tael and eight qian of silver, more than three times the price of barren land in Yanzhou.
The landlords and gentry were invited to negotiate with Liang Xiao. After bargaining, they collectively ceded three hundred thousand mu of barren land.
"Lord An Guo does not want fertile land?" one landlord asked curiously.
Liang Xiao merely shook his head, offering no further explanation.
Without modern fertilizers, the difference in yield between barren and fertile land was negligible for those hardy new crops.
According to Liang Xiao's plan, the new crops could be promoted, allowing him and the national treasury to stockpile large amounts of grain to prevent famine.
Over a hundred major landowners, on the spot, completed a series of procedures with the trusted officials Liang Xiao had sent from his Suzhou residence. They accepted Liang Xiao's silver notes and departed joyfully.
Zhuo Ping couldn't help but sigh, "Lord An Guo needs to maintain the bookstore and also purchase land. This subordinate is truly worried for you..."
In his official capacity, Zhuo Ping did not forget protocol and honorifics despite Liang Xiao being his elder.
"If there were more barren land, I would have liked to buy some more," Liang Xiao smiled.
Liang Xiao already had enough farmland in the north. He still lacked farmland in the south. This move also provided an opportunity to lull the Ouyang family into believing he was overextending himself and could collapse at any moment.
Zhuo Ping was startled and asked no further questions. He reminded Liang Xiao, "Lord Su should be arriving soon!"
So Liang Xiao waited at the Prefect's mansion for Su Wencheng, to meet this "ambassador" renowned in both countries.
After a moment, an urgent inquiry, like the tinkling of silver bells, came from outside: "Father~ Where is Lord An Guo?"
Liang Xiao's gaze sharpened as he saw a plain-looking man in black, about thirty years old, leading two young girls.
"Lord Su!"
Zhuo Ping immediately rose to salute. He then said to the green-clothed girl on the left, "Xiao Han, stop being troublesome for now!"
Liang Xiao also cupped his hands in greeting towards the three.
He had learned from Zhuo Ping earlier that the green-clothed girl was Zhuo Ping's beloved daughter, Zhuo Han. The red-clothed girl on the right was Su Wencheng's younger sister, Su Wanqing, a renowned talent in Suzhou.
"Lord An Guo's youthful bearing is even more impressive in person! This subordinate pays his respects!" Su Wencheng immediately returned the salute.
The two young girls finally met their idol. Filled with excitement, they curtsied to Liang Xiao.
After everyone was seated, the three young girls remained quietly listening to Liang Xiao and the other two converse.
Su Wencheng praised, "The matters of Lord An Guo in Jiangnan recently have been widely heard and are most satisfying!"
"Lord Su's dedication to fostering good relations between the two countries is equally commendable," Liang Xiao replied with a smile.
Su Wencheng merely responded with a few humble words.
Liang Xiao suddenly remembered something and asked, "Why was Lord Su absent from this year's Jiangnan Spring Banquet?"
Su Wencheng replied, "Something happened at home that delayed me, and then I went to Da Liang. It was most regrettable!"
Liang Xiao did not press further but felt a sense of doubt.
As an envoy, and being in Jiangnan, Suzhou was not far from there. It was only natural for him to attend the Jiangnan Spring Banquet.
The Jiangnan Spring Banquet lasted for three days.
Su Wencheng then tentatively asked, "Has Lord An Guo considered taking concubines? My younger sister, Wanqing, is eighteen years old and has not yet been betrothed. I wonder if Lord An Guo finds her agreeable?"
"Brother!" Su Wanqing, who had been silently observing Liang Xiao, blushed crimson.
Liang Xiao gave a dry laugh, "It's hardest to refuse the kindness of a beauty. I already have several ladies who have pledged their lives to me."
"That is truly a pity..." Su Wencheng's face showed regret.
Su Wanqing looked dejected.
Zhuo Han, standing by, also sighed inwardly.
Her cousin's daughter, Zhuo Xuan, had already become Liang Xiao's fiancée. She dared not harbor any further selfish desires.
Zhuo Ping quickly smoothed things over, smiling, "This matter depends on fate. Lord An Guo is also new to Suzhou, so let's focus on official business first."
Su Wencheng understood and took out a dozen-page report, handing it to Liang Xiao.
"Lord An Guo, this is the information I can provide, to help you understand the Jiangnan region and the northern prefectures of Da Liang."
Liang Xiao took it and, after a few pages, expressed his gratitude on the spot.
It recorded the customs and traditions of both countries and regions, as well as some folk practices and taboos, which were indeed useful to him.
"The Su family is also willing to support Lord An Guo, but we hope that Lord An Guo will not extensively replace our Su family personnel..." Su Wencheng requested.
"As long as the Su family's disciples are not corrupt or shirking their duties, Lord Su need not worry about this matter," Liang Xiao said with a smile.
Su Wencheng then expressed his thanks and departed with Su Wanqing.
Exiting the Prefect's mansion, inside the carriage, Su Wencheng and Su Wanqing exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously. They gritted their teeth, their eyes filled with ferocity.